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Sonic Mania gets new gameplay footage at PAX East 2017

Posted on March 11, 2017 by Brittney Williams

Sega just dropped some new gameplay footage for the highly anticipated Sonic Mania at PAX East and it looks great.

If you were “Team Sega” during the great console wars of the 1990s, then you’re likely pretty familiar with the original Sonic games. Sonic Mania captures the charm of those games, and puts a high definition spin on them, bumping the graphics from their original 30 FPS to a whopping 60 FPS.

But that’s not the only new thing Sonic Mania has going for it. The game also introduces new enemies, new levels, new game mechanics, new item boxes, alternate routes, and much more. And in Sonic Mania, players are now immediately transitioned to the brand new “Green Hill Zone Act 2” after “Act 1,” trading in the fade-to-black for uninterrupted gameplay and speedy traversal across the playfield via zip-line.

Sonic Mania is not a remake of any of the original Sonic games from the Sega Genesis era. Instead, it’s an entirely new game that uses prettier, high definition visuals to create a reimagining of the originals. The reimagining attempts to encapsulate all of the things that made the 16-bit versions great, while also refitting them for new and old audiences alike.

Sonic Mania will be available for the PlayStation 4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in Spring 2017. In the meantime, check out the above trailer and some awesome new screenshots after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, PC, PS4, Switch, Xbox One | Tagged ,

Square Enix unveils a $200 Collector’s Edition for Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age

Posted on March 10, 2017 by John Scalzo

If you’re at PAX East, you can swing by the Square Enix booth this weekend to try out a playable demo of Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, which will be available for the PS4 on July 11. But the publisher also used the Boston-based convention to announce a Collector’s Edition for the upcoming remaster.

Priced at $199.99, and available exclusively through the Square Enix Online Store, the Collector’s Edition will include several interesting bonus items:

Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age Collector’s Edition

  • Exclusive “Judge Magisters” Mini Bust Set – Featuring busts of Judges Bergan, Drace, Gabranth, Ghis, and Zargabaath
  • Official Soundtrack CD – Selection of soundtrack music from famed composer Hitoshi Sakimoto
  • Set of Six Art Cards – Featuring Vaan, Ashe, Basch, Fran & Balthier, Penelo, and World of Ivalice
  • Steelbook Packaging – Featuring exclusive art to the Collector’s Edition
  • In-Game Digital Code – Unlocks the option to use the Official Soundtrack as background music

If the Collector’s Edition seems a bit too pricey, don’t worry, Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age will also be available in a Limited Edition ($49.99) that includes an exclusive Steelbook featuring artwork by Akihiko Yoshida and the in-game digital code to unlock the background music option for the Official Soundtrack. And the first printing of the Standard Edition (also $49.99) will include reversible cover artwork by Yoshida.

Finally, fans who pre-order the Digital Edition of Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age through the PlayStation Store will receive a PS4 Theme and four music tracks by Hitoshi Sakimoto.

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Two new Quake Champions trailers reveal Nyx the Champion and “Blood Covenant” Arena

Posted on March 10, 2017 by John Scalzo

Bethesda always strides into Boston in the Spring to put on a big show at PAX East, and this year is no exception. All this weekend, the publisher will give congoers the chance to try out Quake Champions, their upcoming free-to-play arena shooter from id Software.

For those of us following along, the publisher has also unveiled a pair of new trailers for the game. The first focuses on one of the game’s Champions, the Fathom Agent known as Nyx:

Nyx (Fathom Agent)
Starting Health: 100
Starting Armor: 75
Speed: 270

Active Ability — Ghost Walk: Using the Ghost Walk Active Ability moves Nyx into another dimension, instantly making her invisible and immune to damage. Players can use this ability to escape tough battles, maneuver unseen behind unsuspecting enemies, or even avoid damage from incoming projectiles. Re-materializing in the same spot as an enemy will result in an instant Ability Kill.

Passive Ability — Wall Jump: Nyx’s Passive Ability extends her mobility by allowing her to jump twice – once off the floor and another time off of a nearby wall. Wall Jump can help players traverse wide distances between heights or gain the upper hand in a showdown with foes by creating more space to aim and frag.

The second trailer introduces viewers to “Blood Covenant,” an Arena that’s based on Quake III Arena‘s signature map:

Arena: Blood Covenant
Based on one of the most beloved and played maps from Quake III Arena, The Camping Grounds (Q3DM6), Blood Covenant is a modern re-imagining of the legendary Arena. All the favorite sections remain, including the long Jump Pad to the Rocket Launcher, the Quad Damage spawn, the Railgun ledge, and the tightly spaced battles in the Pillars. However, new tricks and secrets await both veterans and new players alike, offering new ways to fight, move, and use Champions’ Active and Passive abilities.

Both trailers can be found after the break. And don’t forget, earlier this week, Bethesda announced that a Closed Beta for Quake Champions will be available soon. (more…)

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Xbox Store Today: 2Dark, King of Fighters ’94, Table Top Racing World Tour, more

Posted on March 10, 2017 by John Scalzo

It’s Friday, so it’s time for another update to the Xbox Games Store…

First up, publisher Bigben Interactive and developer Gloomywood will bring 2Dark to the Xbox One. The retro-themed survival horror game was spearheaded by Frederick Raynal, the creator of the Alone in the Dark series. Like that series, 2Dark similarly follows a detective investigating supernatural forces that want to do bad things.

Xbox One owners who love retro gaming might also be interested in The King of Fighters ’94, another new addition to the Xbox Games Store today. One of SNK’s earliest fighting game efforts, The King of Fighters ’94 brought characters from Fatal Fury and Ikari Warriors into the fight for the first time.

Finally today, Playrise Digital will release Table Top Racing: World Tour for the Xbox One. The game features “fully tunable miniaturized racing cars,” 32 tracks, and several different single-player and multiplayer modes.

More information about all of these games (and a few other new releases) can be found after the break. (more…)

Posted in News, Xbox One |

New trailer details additional features and revamped Battle Mode in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Posted on March 10, 2017 by John Scalzo

Nintendo has begun preparing fans for the April 28th launch of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe with the release of a brand new “Overview Trailer,” as well as more details about its new Battle Mode.

Every racer and course from the original Mario Kart 8 (including the content from both downloadable expansions) will be carried over to Deluxe, but the racing game’s Switch debut will also include five new characters (Inkling Girl, Inkling Boy, King Boo, Dry Bones, and Bowser Jr.), the ability to hold two items at once, returning items like the item-stealing Boo and jumping Feather, a Smart Steering control option, and five ways to play the revamped Battle Mode:

Battle Modes Available in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

  • Renegade Roundup: Making its debut in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, this new mode has one team trying to capture the other and put them into jail before time runs out. The opposing team must try to escape and can break their own teammates out of prison by pressing a button under the jail cell.
  • Balloon Battle: In this oldie but goodie, players earn points by popping balloons on the back of their opponents’ karts.
  • Bob-Omb Blast: Originally seen in the Mario Kart: Double Dash!! game, this mode finds players throwing a barrage of Bob-Ombs at opponents.
  • Coin Runners: By racing across the Battle course, players try to collect the most coins as possible in this fast and frenetic mode introduced in Mario Kart Wii.
  • Shine Thief: Steal the coveted Shine Sprite and try to hold onto it for a 20 count in this classic multiplayer Battle mode.

And if you’re in Boston for this weekend’s PAX East convention, you’ll be able to try out a demo of Mario Kart 8 Deluxe if you visit Nintendo’s booth.

Posted in News, Switch | Tagged ,

Nintendo reveals Super Mario Pez Dispensers for MAR10 Day

Posted on March 10, 2017 by John Scalzo

“World Plumbing Day” is March 11th, but Nintendo has always preferred to celebrate the exploits of their mustachioed pipeslinger a day early.

A few years ago, the consolemaker declared March 10th to be “MAR10 Day,” and the 2017 edition of this special day began with the announcement (via Twitter) of a Super Mario series of Pez Dispensers. Set to be released this May, fans will soon be able to add Mario, Donkey Kong, Princess Peach, and Yoshi to their Pez Dispenser collection.

Sadly, the Super Mario Pez Dispensers won’t be ready in time for “National Hug A Plumber Day,” which takes place on April 25th.

Posted in Etcetera, News |

Telltale reveals first screenshots, plot details, and cast for Guardians of the Galaxy

Posted on March 10, 2017 by John Scalzo

The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center will open the doors to PAX East 2017 in just a few hours, and Telltale Games is using the expo to more fully reveal their episodic series based on Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy.

First, the developer announced a few details about the game’s plot, which won’t tie in to the first Guardians of the Galaxy film or the upcoming Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 2:

Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy: The Telltale Series is a brand new story of the universe’s unlikeliest heroes: Star-Lord, Gamora, Drax, Rocket, and Groot. In the wake of an epic battle, the Guardians discover an artifact of unspeakable power. Each of them has a reason to desire this relic, as does a ruthless enemy who is the last of her kind, and who will stop at nothing to tear it from their hands.

From Earth to the Milano to Knowhere and beyond, and set to the beat of awesome music, you wear the rocket-powered boots of Star-Lord in an original Guardians adventure, where your decisions and actions drive the story you experience.

Telltale also confirmed the film franchise’s cast won’t appear in the game, nor will the actors from the Guardians of the Galaxy animated series on Disney XD. Instead, Nolan North… naturally… will replace Bradley Cooper as Rocket, and he’ll be joined by Scott Porter as Star-Lord, Emily O’Brien as Gamora, Brandon Paul Eells as Drax, and Adam Harrington as Groot.

The cast will take the stage at PAX East, alongside several developers from Telltale, as part of the Telltale Games: Interactive Storytelling 2017 panel. The discussion will begin at 6:00 PM (Eastern Time), and if you can’t make it to PAX East, you’ll be able to follow along at home through the convention’s secondary Twitch channel.

Guardians of the Galaxy will also make an appearance at the 2017 SXSW Gaming Expo on Friday, March 17. The game will make its public debut in Austin as Telltale Games plans to host a Crowd Play night for an early version of the first episode. It seems likely that Telltale will release the first trailer for the game shortly after.

In the meantime, you can find the first four screenshots from Guardians of the Galaxy: Episode 1, which will be released this Spring, after the break. (more…)

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Nintendo Download: Blaster Master Zero, NeoGeo Games on Switch, Voez, more

Posted on March 9, 2017 by John Scalzo

Week Two of the Switch era begins for Nintendo, and the consolemaker is kicking it off with the launch of eight new games for the console as part of this week’s Nintendo Download.

Inti Creates leads the way with Blaster Master Zero, their retro-styled reboot of the popular NES action game. The side-scroller/overhead hybrid is also available to download for the 3DS.

Also available to download for the Switch today is Voez, a rhythm game that is only playable through the console’s Handheld Mode. But those who decide to tap on the notes in the correct sequence will help six high school students achieve international fame with their band.

Finally, Hamster Corporation will re-release six NeoGeo classics on the Switch this week as part of their Arcade Archives series. Each game is priced at $7.99, and the list of available titles includes The King of Fighters ’98, Metal Slug 3, World Heroes Perfect, Nam-1975, Shock Troopers, and Waku Waku 7.

And don’t think Nintendo forgot about the Wii U. Bomberman 64, which was originally released for the Nintendo 64 in 1997, was added to the Wii U’s Virtual Console service today.

You can learn more about all of these games (and a few other new releases) after the break. (more…)

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